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Pollution-hit Paris offers free public transport for three days

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In a bid to check the rising pollution levels in the city, the authorities in Paris have made public transport free for three days, hoping to reduce severe smog caused by unusually warm weather.

The commuters in Paris will not have to pay for public transport and can travel free between Friday and Sunday. Bike sharing services and one-hour sessions for electric car shares would be also free for three days.

It is noteworthy, the French capital and 30 other departments have been on maximum pollution alert for several days. The French environmental agencies have said that the air quality of Paris has been one of the worst on record. Moreover, a lack of wind followed with cold nights and unseasonably warm days have contributed to the worsening climatic conditions.

Landmark buildings like the Eiffel Tower were barely visible after a white fog settled over Paris, eyewitnesses said.

The situation is more worrisome for the experts as the levels of smog recorded in Paris this week have been similar to those of Beijing in China. Beijing is one of the world’s most polluted cities and has been in news for quit sometimes in the recent past due to its deteriorating climatic conditions.

French authorities appealed to drivers to leave their cars at home. “I am asking all residents in Paris and neighbouring areas to favour the use of public transport,” said Jean-Paul Huchon, the head of the the capital’s transport authority.